Kuduo were used in many ways by the Asante and Akan peoples. They held gold dust, cowrie shells, and other valuables; but could also be found in important political and ritual contexts. Some kuduo were buried with their owners, while others were kept in the palace shrine rooms that housed the ancestral stools of deceased state leaders. Life and the afterlife, the present and the past, were enhanced and made more meaningful by the presence of these elegant prestige vessels.

This cast copper alloy kuduo rest upon a separately cast openwork lattice ring, distinguished by the fineness of its execution, which has been carefully fused to the kuduo itself. The lid of this container is adorned with two small cast birds. Most likely, this motif refers to or suggests an Akan proverb, the type often rendered on these vessels. The copper alloy has acquired a rich green/blue patina over the ages, probably a result of being buried. This stunning vessel was created to hold precious objects. However, the kuduo today is no doubt more of a treasure than anything it ever might have once contained.